Newspaper vending machine



Maul-128, 1950 A. w. SAWITZKE 2,501,970

NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 (fIXVESNYTR. BY

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NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHINE Filed Jan. 16, 1946 s Sheets-Sheet 2 (Illllllllllllllllllllllr March 28, 1950 A. w. SAWITZKE NEWSPAPER VENDING MACHIN 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 16, 1946 INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Arthur'WJSaWit'zke; Cleveland, Ohio, assignor' of one-half to .Glenn' H. Garden Application January 16, 1946,.S erial-N0..641';502

Myinvention relates in general to improvements in vending machines and in particular .to improvements in-a-neWSp'aper vending machine. My vending machine may be used for vending newspapers, magazinesand other articles, hereinafter referred toes newspapersin my specification and claims.

.An object of my'invention is .theprovision of a vending machine for'delivering newspapers one byone from a stack of newspapers.

Another object of m 'invention is the provision of a vending machine which is manually operable'to deliver .afinewspaper to .a customer only when a coin is placed in'the coin controlled mechanism of the vending machine.

Another object 'of'myinvention isthe provision of a vending machine which has for its operation thestps of moving the top newspaper of a stack of newspapers a distance of lessthan V2 one of its 'dimensionsjfrom the stack and then moving-'thetopnewspaperfa distance to extend it more than said dimension from the stack and simultaneously "moving "the next adjacent top newspaper adi'stance lessthan said dimensionfromth 'stackywhereby the top newspaper is vended to a customer. I

Another object "of-my invention is the provision' of an ejector reciprocally mounted within the'newspaper vending machineand disposed'to engage a newspaper of a-stack ,ofnewspapers and move that paper partially from'the stack.

Another object ofrmy invention is the provision of a newspaper vending machine having an ejector therein-which rests'b-y its own weight upon the stack of newspapers andfollows downwardly therethrough as the newspapers are vended one by one fromthe' top or thestack.

Afurthe'r objectof my invention is the provision of a'newspaper vending machine having an ejector reciprocally mounted therein with a coin controlled manually operable slide means for reciprocally movingthe-ejector to vend newspapers one by one from'the'. stack of newspapers.

A still"further object oftmyiinvention is the provision or apcoin controlled mechanism which has "a pair or 'reciprocally'movable "slide members disposed tobe operativ'elyconnectedby a coin, whereby one member may'move the other member. I

=Other objects and "aiuller-understanding of the invention maybe hadby-referring to the following description "andclaims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawin in which: v p a Figure 1 of my drawing is afront-elevational '2 Claims. (Cl. 312- 55) outwardly through .theiront side l5.

2 view of-ithe preferred embodimentof my news paper vending. machine Figure 2 is aside .view of my invention with the door, swung .open to illustratethe manually operable parts therein;

Figure ,3 ;is ,an enlarged fragmentary View, certain parts being shown in cross-section, of my coin controlled mechanism in a first position;

Figure ,4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of my coin controlled mechanismina second position, certain partsv being shown in cross-section;

,Figure Sis ,a top .view, o f.my .eoin controlled mechanism;

"Figure 611s aangenlarged oblique View of the male and female portions of my .coin controlled mechanism;

Figure Tisja crossgsectional view taken along the line 'l-lofgliigure. 3 and Figure 8is ,'a;modification ofumy invention.

My newspaper vending machine comprises in general a coin controlled mechanism), which is manually operable.toreciprocallymove a newspaper ejector II. Thenewspaperejector ll rests substantially by its own weight upon the newspapers in the stack I2, which issupported by a shelf [3. The working partslof my newspaper vending machine are enclosed within a housing I4 which has a frontsidelS and a back side 16. In Figurel2 of m jdrawing I havevshown the door ll, on one ,end of the vending machine, as being opened to fully illustrate my invention.

My coin controlled mechanism [0 has a pull member 20 .andpa slide member 22. The pull member 20 is reciprocally movable supported by a front sleeve 2|, which may be'fastened by welding or other suitable means to the front side 15 of the housingM. Thepull member 20 extends The external portion '24 of the pull member 20 is terminated in a handle knob '25. The slide member 22 is reciprocally -movable"mounted in a back sleeve 23, which'may be welded or fastened by I other suitable meansto theback side l6 of the housing I4. ,lnimy drawings, '1 have illustrated the pull memberZOandfthe,slide member ,22 as being cylindrical rods of substantially thesame diameters. It is to 'beunderstood however, that rods of other shapes ,may be used without departing from'the scopeof my invention.

The slide member r22 extends into theiront sleeve 2lsto engage .theqendof the pullmember 20. This end o f the pull .member 20 which the slideimember 22 ae l aeesiis the ,female end por- 7 female end portion has a groove 3! therein. The groove 3| extends diametrically of the pull member and longitudinally from the end 32. The diametrically opposite side pieces 33 of this female end portion 36, which define the groove 3i have an opening 34 therein. The dimensions of this opening 34 ar dependent upon the size of the coin to be used to control the mechanism. The length of the opening 34 is slightly greater than the diameter of the coin. The width of the opening 34 is slightly greater than the thickness of the coin.

The slide member 22 has a male end portion 31 adapted to enter the groove 31 of the female end portion 30 of the pull member 26. This male end portion 31 has an opening 36 therethrough disposed for alignment with the openings 34 in the female end portion 3D.--'-Theopening 38 is substantially the same size as the openings 34. The front sleeve 2!, which supports these members 26 and 22 in operative relationship, has an opening 39 in the top thereof. When the slide member 22 is in a first position, as illustrated in Figure 3, the openings 34 and 38 are aligned with the opening 39. The coin 36 may thus be inserted in the openings in the male and female end portions to connect the slide member 22 to the pull member 26. The front sleeve has an opening 46, of substantially the same size as the opening 64, in the bottom side thereof, through which the coin 36 is removed. This opening 40 is disposed for alignment with the openings 34 and 38 of the male and female end portions 30 and 31 when the slide member'is in a second position, as illustrated in Figure 4. The front sleeve 2! also has an openin 42 located diametrically opposite the opening 46. A spring member 4| extends through the opening 42 in the front sleeve 21 to force the coin 36 through the opening 40 and from the coin controlled mechanism ID. This spring member 4| may be fastened to the front sleeve 2! by screw 43, as illustrated in my drawing or by other suitable means. a

The back sleeve member 23 extends inwardly from the back side vI6a sufficient distance to permit the endwise movementof the slide member 22 from the first position, as shown in Figure 3, to the second position as shown in Figure '4 without the tailend 46 of the slide member22 leaving theback sleeve 23. It is thus seen that at all times the back sleeve 23 supports this tail end 46 of the slide member 22. A back stop collar 41 fastened by a set screw 48 or other suitable means to the slide member 22 hits the end 49 of the back sleeve 23. This back stop collar 4! is fastened to the slide member 22 to stop endwise motion in a second direction towards the back side of the housing. When the back stop collar 41 is against the end 49 of the back sleeve 23 the slide member 22 is in the first position as illustrated in Figure 3. Similarly a front stop collar 56 may be used to prevent endwise movement of the slide member 22 in a first direction toward the front side [5 of the housing I4. When the front stop collar 50 engages the end M of the front sleeve 2! the slide member 22 is in the second position, as best illustrated in Figure l. The slide member '22 moves less than A; the

width of the newspaper when moving from the first position to the second position.

A flange support'53, for supporting the newspaper ejector I, is positioned between the front stop collar 50 and the back stop collar 4! on the slide member 22. This flange support 63 may be fastened adjustably to the slide member 22 by means of a set screw 54 or other suitable means. As is best illustrated in Figure '7, the flange has a substantially rectangular flange portion 55 with grooves 56 therein. These grooves 56 are located on opposite edges of the rectangular flange portion 65 and are disposed to permit vertical movement of the newspaper ejector I l toward and away from the stack of newspapers. This newspaper ejector l l is operatively fastened to the slide member 22 by runners 60 which reciprocally slide within the grooves 56 to permit the ejector l l to rest by its own weight on the stack of newspapers. The runners 60 are placed on diametrically opposite sides of the slide member 22 to stabilize. verticalv movement of the newspaper ejector. l l-.-- The ends of the runners furthest from the newspaper ejector ll may be fastened together by-a cross-member 6|. This cross memberiitmay be fastened by rivets 62 or other suitable means to the individual runners 66, and spaces the runners at that end the same distance apartas they are at the newspaper ejector ill Although I have described my Preferred method of fastening the ejector II to the slide member 22, it is understood that other suitable means may be used which will permit vertical movement of the ejector with respect to the slide member 22, and, at the same time will permit reciprocal hori zontal movement of the newspaper ejector Ii in the first and second direction by the endwise movement of the slide member 22.

The newspaper ejector H has a pair of runner plates 64 which ride on the top of the stack of newspapers. The runner plates 64 may be fastened to the runnerGU by a spacer member which extends between the runner plates 64. The spacer member may be fastened by suitable means such, forexample, as rivets 62 to the runners 66. This spacer member 65 has end flanges 63 disposed to be fastenedto the runner plates 64; These end flanges 63 position the runner plates 64 parallel to each other and to the direction of reciprocal; movement of the slide member '22. The runner-plates 64 and the end flanges .63 of the spacer member 65 may be fastened by rivets 59, or by' other suitable means, suchforexample-bolts, thus; forming the parts into a unit; For purposes'of clarity I have designated these runner plates .64as having a front edge 66 which faces..,the front side l5 of the housing l4 and a back edge 61 which faces the back side 16 of the housing, .l4 A pointed finger 10,.pivotably fastened near the top of the runner plate 64 and substantially on,the .back edge 6? thereof by rivets 69 or other suitable means, digs into the top newspaper .of the stack. When the ejector'is move'dinthe-first direction toward the front side I5 it moves the .engagedtonnewspaper a distance less than /z-itS width from the stack. This pointed fingerxwslide overthe top newspaper when the newspaper ejector I is moved in the second directiontowardthe. back side it of the housing M. A stop pin 1| whichis fastened to the runner plate 64, .may-be-employed to prevent excess rotation of the pointed finger whereby the newspaperengagedwillbe-moved in the first direction toward theifront side of the housing whenthe newspaper ejector is moved in that direction. I

Atthe beginning of-the cycle of operation of my newspaper vending machinea stack of newspapers I2 is supported on the shelf l3 as shown in Figure 2. Thisstack of newspapers includes a top newspaper15 and a next adjacent newspaper 16. The top newspaper I5 is positioned est-rate with the forward edge 12 of 3 thetop newspaper 15' overhanging the front side 11 of the-"stack. The front side TFofthe-stack is theside'ne'arest*the front side l5 of the housing I4. The newspaper ejector ll restssubstantially byits own weight'on the next adjacent newspaper 16, and in 'thefirst' position nearest the backside of the housing. Anotch68 in the front edge 66 of the newspaper-ejector ll permits a portion of the ejector to extend over the top newspaper 15 to prevent the back side80 of the top newspaper from tipping upand away fromthe stack. The pointed finger 18 engages the next adjacent newspaper '16. The slide-member 22 is held in the first position, nearest the backside'of thehousing b-y springstlwhich are fastened between the pull member 20 and the back side I6 of the housing M. A rod 82 extending through suitable slots- 83 in the front sleeve 2| and fastened to the pull member 28 may be used to operatively fasten the springs 8| thereto. The slots 83 in the sleeve permit the rod 82 to travel longitudinally of the sleeve as the pull member 26 is traveling endwise within the sleeve.

The operator, in operating the machine, drops a 'coin in a coin slot 85, located above the handle knob on the front side [5 of the housing I4. A coin chute 86, which may be constructed of any suitable design and material conducts this coin into theopenings 34 and 38 of the male and female portions of the pull member 20 of theslide member 22. It is understood that at this time the slide member is in-the first position. The coin operatively connects the slide member 22 to the pull meniber'ZD. 'The operator pulls the handle knob 25 away from the front side of the machine, thus causing the pull memher-=28 to move the slide member 22 endwise in the first direction toward the front side of the housing, and from the first position as shown in Figure 3. In traveling in this first direction, the slide member moves the newspaper ejector therewith. The pointed fingers engage the next adjacent newspaper l6, and the notched portion 68 engages the top newspaper 15 to move these newspapers forward in the first direction a distance less than their width. When the front stop collar 58 hits the end 5| of the front sleeve 2!, the endwise movement of the slide member 22, and thus the forward movement of the ejector I! in the first direction, is stopped. Figure 4 best illustrates the relationship between the working parts of my vending machine at this secend position.

The top newspaper 15 now extends more than its width from the stack, and the next adjacent newspaper extends less than /2 its width from the stack. The top newspaper 15, extending more than one-half its width from the stack of newspapers bend the next adjacent newspaper 16 and falls from the top of the stack on the front side 11 thereof. At this same time the coin spring remover member 4| forces the coin from the openings 34 and 38 in the male and female portions and through the opening 40 in the bottom of the front sleeve 2|. The coin after leaving the front sleeve 2| falls into a suitable coin catch pan 8! which may be fastened by suitable means to the front side l5 of 6 located in the front side l5 and below the handle knob l E'through which the'operator receives his newspaper. The'new'spaper'chute 88 may be fastened by suitable means to the support 13' and the front side-of thehousing l4.

When the-operator releases the handle knob 25, the springs 81 "pull the pull member 28 in theseco'n'd direction'towardthe back sidebf the-housing to move the slide member 22 "from the second positionto the first position, which is shown in Figure 3. The slide member 22 in moving toward the back side of the housing moves the ejector ll towards the back side 5 of the housing. The ejector ll slides from the next adjacent newspaper 18 and on to another newspaper 18. 'As is best shown in the Figures 3 ands, the back edge of the ejector on the bottom edges thereof is chamfered to prevent the corners of the ejector digging into the newspaper-when it is moved toward the back side of the' 'housing. Thenotch 68fits over the back edge 85' of the next adjacent newspaper'lfi to prevent "it from tipping up 'or away from the stack. If the newspaper is tipped up from the stack, there is a possibility that it would fall from the stack and be vended before the newspaper ejector is'again moved in the forward or first direction. Before the next adjacent newspaper 76 may bevended or further moved from the stack of newspapers, the operator will again have to put another coin into the coin control mechanism It to move the ejector ll forward. Slots 1.9 'in the'shelf l3. prevent the pointed fingers "l8 'fromdigging into the shelf while the ejector is moved forward to eject'the last newspaper in the stack.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, the newspaper ejector moves in a forward-and rearward direction a distance less than one-half the width of the newspaper. It is to be understood that in my specification and claims the word width is not to be limited in its meaning, but is to be construed as meaning any one of the dimensions of the newspaper. Thus, the first time the ejector is moved forward the top newspaper is moved to extend less than one-half its width from the stack. The second time and each succeeding time thereafter that the ejector is moved forward, the top newspaper is moved to extend more than one-half its width from the stack and the next adjacent newspaper is moved to extend less than one-half its width from the stack. The top newspaper, extending more than one-half its width from the stack thereby falls into the chute and is delivered to the customer at the mouth or opening in the front of my vending machine.

It is assumed that the weight of a newspaper is evenly distributed throughout the newspaper, and that when the newspaper extends beyond the stack more than /2 its width that portion of the newspaper extending beyond the stack will contain more than the total weight of the newspaper. If the weight is not evenly distributed, the distance of movement may be adjusted to extend more than the weight of the newspaper beyond the stack the second time the ejector moves that newspaper forward. In the case of a newspaper having an uneven distribution of weight, it is to be understood that when I speak of more than /2 width of the newspaper extending beyond the stack, that I include in my meaning the thought of more than /2 the weight extending beyond the stack.

In Figure 8 I illustrate a modification of my newspaper ejector, li.. My modified newspaper ejector'has the notch 68, as in my preferred embodiment, and also a second notch 13. .,The notch 68 engages the back edge of the top news-' paper. Simultaneously, the notch 13 engages the back edge of the nextadjacent newspaper. The operation of a newspaper vending machine having this modified ejector is similar to that of;my preferred newspaper vending machine 1 -,Although I have described my invention with a certain degree of particularity in its preferred form,'it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combine.- tion-and arrangement of parts may be resorted tolywithout departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

-Whatis claimed is: 1. In a newspaper vending machine, a supporting structure including a horizontal shelf having a-newspaper supporting portion for supporting a-stack of newspapers, an elongated rod slidable endwise and horizontally supported directly over the newspaper supporting portion of said shelf, a runner holding member fastened to and carried by said elongated rod, said runner holding member having vertically disposed guide surface means positioned directly over the newspaper supporting portion of the shelf, an elongated runner held by said holding member and vertically slidable on said guide surface means and having a bottom end descendable towards said shelf, and an ejector on the bottom end of said runner and adapted to engage a newspaper supported by said shelf.

2. In a newspaper vending machine, a supporting structure including a horizontal shelf having a newspaper supporting portion for supporting a stavkaof newspapers, an elongated rod. slidable endwise and horizontally supported'directly over the newspaper supporting portion of said shelf, a runner holding member fastened to and carried by said elongated rod, said runner holding member having vertical runner guide grooves positioned directly over the newspaper supporting portionsof the shelf with a groove on each side ofv said. rod, a pair of runners held by said holding member with each runner vertically slidable in its respective of said grooves and having bottom ends descendable towards said shelf, and an ejector interconnecting the bottom ends of said runners and adapted to engage a newspaper supportedby said shelf.

ARTHUR W. SAWITZKE.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 536,690 Loewenbach Apr. 2, 1895 954,873 Moulton Apr. 12, 1910 1,161,334 Pollock Nov. 23, 1915 1,314,217 Roberts Aug. 26, 1919 1,348,012 Lancaster July 27, 1920 1,477,501 Keenan Dec. 11, 1923 1,648,813 Kelly Nov. 8, 1927 1,876,292 Hebb Sept. 6, 1932 2,119,548 Laughery June 7,1938 2,180,326 Traversy Nov. 14,1939

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 23,641 Great Britain 1900 106,426 Great Britain May 24, 1917 

